Gordon County’s celebration of the home of the brave this year will be a patriotic experience for members of every generation.

Fairmount’s celebration will feature recently-purchased flags on the light poles and the Kiwanis Club’s annual celebration at Tate Park on July 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with games, inflatables and music.

Fairmount Kiwanis President-elect Karen Herring is coordinating the events for the celebration at the park. She said this year’s celebration will feature more fun for kids; she is planning for several games, like bingo, a spoon-egg race, a hula hoop contest, a scavenger hunt and a watermelon-eating contest for the younger attendees.

The event will be fulfilling for all ages, Herring said. Older generations will enjoy chatting with friends and family or dancing to music.

Fairmount is having a raffle for a .410 double barrel shotgun, and the drawing will be at 3 p.m. on the day of the celebration.

Herring said she hopes to have 35 percent or more in participation. She said she and the Kiwanis members have had more help from the public this year, and the team therefore uses every opportunity to help families in need.

“Our July 3 celebration helps us do even more to complete this task,” she says. “Our goal is to make our community a much better place to live and play.”

She included, “And a special thanks to our city for our flags and for all the service men and women, who do such a good job. We are all proud and honored.”

For more information or to help volunteer in Fairmount, call Herring at 706-334-5544.

Annual Fireworks Show

The Calhoun Fairgrounds will once again be the host of the annual Star-Spangled Celebration on Sunday, July 4. Gates will open at 5p.m.

Organizer Bud Owens is aiming for a traditional celebration with activities beginning at 6 p.m.; music and entertainment will continue for hours on two stages. The headliner performer will be Tommy Ray Gurley, who will entertain with hits from the 1950s and Elvis favorites.

Throughout the evening, there will be additional bands and dance groups, along with food vendors and other activities for kids.

Later on in the evening, between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m., the fairgrounds will host the largest firework show in North Georgia.

Admission is free, as usual, and Owens said he would like to thank all the community sponsors, especially premier sponsor Mohawk.

“I encourage everyone to attend this fun-filled event with your family to celebrate our country’s independence” Owens said.

This event has been a wide-area event for more than 20 years, since it was founded by Owens and Ginger Loy.

For more information, call the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce, 706-625-3200.